By Rishan Jayasundera
A powerful parcel bomb hidden in the overhead rack of a crowded bus at the Piliyandala main bus stand ripped through the bus killing at least 24 passengers and wounding more than 40 last evening, police said.
They said the blast, that rocked the area blazing a fireball into the air, had occurred around 6.43 pm just after the crowded Kesbewa Depot bus bearing number 63-4170 turned to the Horana – Colombo main road from the main Piliyandala bus stand to go towards Kahapola.Eyewitnesses said that the bus plying the 157 route was packed with passengers returning home from work and students returning after private tuition classes. The bomb had been placed at the middle of the bus and the explosion had ripped through the roof shredding the metal sheets into strips.
“It was a powerful explosion and the bomb was in the overhead rack,” Military Spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said while claiming that a civilian had seen the bomb parcel on the rack.
Blaming the Tigers for the blast, Brigadier Nanayakkara said the attack was clearly the work of the LTTE, who are currently facing a severe setback in the northern war front.
He also said the injured were immediately rushed to the Piliyandala, Kalubowila and the Colombo National Hospitals.
“There were 13 bodies at the Kalubowila hospital while others were at the Piliyandala hospital by late evening yesterday,” he said.
He also said bomb squad officials reached the location and carried out investigations to ascertain what type of bomb had been used for the attack.
Soon after the blast the people in the area rushed to the scene and moved the victims to the hospitals.
An eyewitnesses told the Daily Mirror the CTB bus heavily crowded with about 70 to 80 passengers had just left the Piliyandala main bus stand and was about to pick more passengers at the Horana Road halting place in front of Abans and Bata showrooms when the bomb went off.
The explosion caused serious damage to the steel roof and frame of the CTB bus and had shattered the large windowpanes of roadside shops and commercial showrooms.
Kalubowilla Hospital Director Dr. W. A Gunawardene said more than 12 bodies were brought to the hospital following the blast.
In addition about 60 people were receiving treatment at the Hospital and they included 45 males and 13 females. There were several children also among the injured, he said.Four who were in a critical condition were rushed to the National Hospital.
Driver escapes
Ananda Ratnasiri, the driver of the ill-fated bus said the blast occurred at around 6.40 pm just as the bus started the journey to Kahapola.
“I started the trip around 6.40 pm and moved forward around 10 metres when I heard a loud explosion and the bus was covered with black smoke,” said Ratnasiri who survived with minor injuries. He said he managed to avert a bigger disaster by applying the breaks and stopping it. According to him the blast had taken place around the centre of the bus. “I heard people screaming with terror and I quickly jumped out to get help,” he said.
According to Ratnasiri he had done 10 shifts for the day and the bus had only stopped at the Piliyandala bus halt. He said he cannot remember as to who got in and out of the bus. “We did not check any parcels as we do not have the right to do so,” he said.
He said there were around 150 passengers in the bus at the time of the explosion. He was not aware of the conductor’s fate.
Eyewitnesses relate horrific tale
Among the injured were 14-year-old Anula Vidyalaya student Eshani Perera and her 11-year-old brother Anjana Perera. Eshani said she was at the bus halt with her mother and brother when the blast occurred.
“I only heard a loud explosion and we fell on the ground,” the shaken girl said looking for her mother. “I don’t know what happened to my mother,” she told doctors eager to find her mother.The doctors assured that they would look for her.
Kularathe who was in a 120 route bus nearby said he heard a loud explosion and saw glasses breaking and people being thrown out of the ill-fated bus.
He said he was a mason by profession and was going to town to purchase some raw material for a job he had undertaken. Dharmadasa a security officer attached to Velona Garments Moratuwa said he was on his way for duty at a bungalow which belonged to a Director of the company. He was inside an adjoining bus when he heard a loud noise and saw the explosion that took place.
A powerful parcel bomb hidden in the overhead rack of a crowded bus at the Piliyandala main bus stand ripped through the bus killing at least 24 passengers and wounding more than 40 last evening, police said.
They said the blast, that rocked the area blazing a fireball into the air, had occurred around 6.43 pm just after the crowded Kesbewa Depot bus bearing number 63-4170 turned to the Horana – Colombo main road from the main Piliyandala bus stand to go towards Kahapola.Eyewitnesses said that the bus plying the 157 route was packed with passengers returning home from work and students returning after private tuition classes. The bomb had been placed at the middle of the bus and the explosion had ripped through the roof shredding the metal sheets into strips.
“It was a powerful explosion and the bomb was in the overhead rack,” Military Spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said while claiming that a civilian had seen the bomb parcel on the rack.
Blaming the Tigers for the blast, Brigadier Nanayakkara said the attack was clearly the work of the LTTE, who are currently facing a severe setback in the northern war front.
He also said the injured were immediately rushed to the Piliyandala, Kalubowila and the Colombo National Hospitals.
“There were 13 bodies at the Kalubowila hospital while others were at the Piliyandala hospital by late evening yesterday,” he said.
He also said bomb squad officials reached the location and carried out investigations to ascertain what type of bomb had been used for the attack.
Soon after the blast the people in the area rushed to the scene and moved the victims to the hospitals.
An eyewitnesses told the Daily Mirror the CTB bus heavily crowded with about 70 to 80 passengers had just left the Piliyandala main bus stand and was about to pick more passengers at the Horana Road halting place in front of Abans and Bata showrooms when the bomb went off.
The explosion caused serious damage to the steel roof and frame of the CTB bus and had shattered the large windowpanes of roadside shops and commercial showrooms.
Kalubowilla Hospital Director Dr. W. A Gunawardene said more than 12 bodies were brought to the hospital following the blast.
In addition about 60 people were receiving treatment at the Hospital and they included 45 males and 13 females. There were several children also among the injured, he said.Four who were in a critical condition were rushed to the National Hospital.
Driver escapes
Ananda Ratnasiri, the driver of the ill-fated bus said the blast occurred at around 6.40 pm just as the bus started the journey to Kahapola.
“I started the trip around 6.40 pm and moved forward around 10 metres when I heard a loud explosion and the bus was covered with black smoke,” said Ratnasiri who survived with minor injuries. He said he managed to avert a bigger disaster by applying the breaks and stopping it. According to him the blast had taken place around the centre of the bus. “I heard people screaming with terror and I quickly jumped out to get help,” he said.
According to Ratnasiri he had done 10 shifts for the day and the bus had only stopped at the Piliyandala bus halt. He said he cannot remember as to who got in and out of the bus. “We did not check any parcels as we do not have the right to do so,” he said.
He said there were around 150 passengers in the bus at the time of the explosion. He was not aware of the conductor’s fate.
Eyewitnesses relate horrific tale
Among the injured were 14-year-old Anula Vidyalaya student Eshani Perera and her 11-year-old brother Anjana Perera. Eshani said she was at the bus halt with her mother and brother when the blast occurred.
“I only heard a loud explosion and we fell on the ground,” the shaken girl said looking for her mother. “I don’t know what happened to my mother,” she told doctors eager to find her mother.The doctors assured that they would look for her.
Kularathe who was in a 120 route bus nearby said he heard a loud explosion and saw glasses breaking and people being thrown out of the ill-fated bus.
He said he was a mason by profession and was going to town to purchase some raw material for a job he had undertaken. Dharmadasa a security officer attached to Velona Garments Moratuwa said he was on his way for duty at a bungalow which belonged to a Director of the company. He was inside an adjoining bus when he heard a loud noise and saw the explosion that took place.
